[Web4lib] Re: Qualifications for a Web Designer/Developer

[Vrena Patrick]

Thank you for posting this.  I recently graduated with my MLIS and was wondering exactly what I needed to make me more desireable for a systems librarian.  Your posting confirmed what I figured out the hard way yesterday by compiling several recently posted systems librarian positions.  It also makes me feel better to know that all 'techies' take part in  continuing education in order to stay on top of the latest and greatest things.  If anyone else had suggestions, I'd be thrilled to listen to them.
   
  As a newbie to thr listserv, I have been grateful for the tons of information posted here.  Thanks to all.
   
  Sincerely, 
  Vrena Patrick
  McKinney Memorial Public Library
  McKinney, TX  75069
  vpatrick at mckinneytexas.org


  
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:50:05 -0400
From: "David Kemper" 
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Qualifications for a Web Designer/Developer
To: web4lib at webjunction.org
Message-ID:
<279898a50709270950y24f33747n9a6998b493e8b1c6 at mail.gmail.com>
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Thank you to all who provided some feedback and advice to the question
I had regarding moving from informal web guy to formal web
professional. While having a MLS degree has helped me become
recognized, I realize that possessing solid technical and web skills
makes all the difference in landing a job.

In my spare time (yes, that huge chunk of time we all have available),
I've managed to take courses in several software applications
mentioned, including Photoshop and Dreamweaver and Flash, and I've had
the chance to apply them in a real-world context, such as creating web
graphics, simple movies, posters, and designing and managing websites
and updating web content. The web design portion is challenging but
seems to come naturally.

I've tended to stay away from the 'programming' languages, relying on
colleagues or free scripts on the Web. But I see, judging from the
responses, that I can no longer pass them by. Is it safe to say that
having a good understanding of what these web programming languages
can do is sufficient or should one become a proficient programmer?

I am also very curious about new and emerging technologies such as
RSS, wikis, blogs, podcasting, etc, and try my best to find some
freebie software to test each of them out.

It's challenging; it requires on-going learning. But, above all, it's exciting.

Feel free to add your comments on or off the list (siansleep at gmail.com)

Thank you,

David



On 9/20/07, Jesse Ephraim wrote:
> >What qualifications (i.e. key skills, must-have experience) are
> >required to be recognized by employers as a professional web designer
> >/ developer (be it in a library or non-library environment)?
>
> I was a professional programmer/developer for almost ten years, starting before the WWW portion of Internet was around. The answer to you question can vary quite a bit, depending on the type of industry, whether you are working with a team or alone, and the type of website. Corporate, library, small business, and university web developers sometimes differ a lot in the specific skills they use on a day-to-day basis.
>
> Web programmers (as opposed to interface/layout/design folks) are often under pressure to write code very, very, very quickly. Extensive formalized testing, rigorous development methodologies, formal versioning, etc. are excellent practices (and important ones to learn), but they are not always practical when you are handed an assignment to produce a brand new bit of code in two hours.
>
> There are several different types of web developer. The four broadest classifications include programmers, system administrators, artists, and layout/interface design specialists. In the not-so-distant past developers were expected to have all the skills from each of these categories; nowadays, there is a tendency to have more focused skills, and many more sub-specialties. Some businesses have one or more people in each of those roles, while in others one person is still expected to handle everything (which is the case in most libraries).
>
> In day-to-day practice, a good set of basic skills to have for a one-person-shop web developer would be:
>
> Coding/scripting/programming - PERL, PHP, ASP, ASP.NET, JAVA, JavaScript, SQL, and experience playing with various APIs (Google and Amazon, for example)
>
> Databases - MS SQL Server, MS Access, MySQL, Oracle
>
> Platforms - Windows environment, UNIX, and LINUX
>
> Graphics - ability to use PhotoShop fairly well
>
> Layout/Design - thorough understanding of CSS, XML, JavaScript, effective interface design, effective layout strategies, and (of course) HTML
>
>
> Web-based technology changes constantly, so professional web developers of any type have to be fairly rigorous about keeping up with new developments and learning new skills. You generally will not have any time at work to do that, so expect to do a lot of self-education in your off-hours.
>
> One of the most important things you can do is develop an online portfolio of your work. At least some of the websites should be for real groups or companies. One of the best ways for a new developer to get experience with these is to offer to do free websites for non-profit organizations.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Jesse Ephraim
>
> Youth Services Librarian
> Southlake Public Library
> 1400 Main Street, Suite 130
> Southlake, TX 76092
> (817) 748-8248
> jephraim at ci.southlake.tx.us
>
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